"Connect"
Single by ClariS
from the album Birthday
ReleasedFebruary 2, 2011
Recorded2011
GenreJ-pop
Length4:27
LabelSME
Songwriter(s)Shō Watanabe
ClariS singles chronology
"Irony"
(2010)		 "Connect"
(2011)		 "Nexus"
(2011)
Audio sample
A 23-second sample from "Connect", featuring ClariS singing the first verse as it transitions from C minor to G-flat major at 0:11.
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"Connect" (コネクト, Konekuto) is a pop song by the Japanese duo and idol unit ClariS, written by Shō Watanabe. It was released as the unit's second single on February 2, 2011, by SME Records. The song was used as the opening theme to the 2011 anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica.[1] A music video was produced for "Connect", directed by Takumi Shiga. The single peaked at No. 5 on Japan's weekly Oricon singles chart, and was later awarded a Gold Disc by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for having exceeded 100,000 copies shipped in a single year.

Composition

"Connect" is a J-pop song with instrumentation from piano, violin, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, drums, and a synthesizer. According to a book of sheet music published by Shinko Music Entertainment, it is set in common time and moves at a tempo of 175 beats per minute.[2] Beginning in the D minor key, the introduction starts with only piano accompanying ClariS' vocals in the chorus melody. A bridge is used in G-flat major with added drums and violin to transition into the first verse in C minor, which shifts back to G-flat major with the chorus. After another bridge, still in G-flat major, this pattern is repeated for the second verse and chorus featuring the same music with different lyrics. The second key shift from C minor to G-flat major is the final key change of the song. A break is used to transition into a short third verse, followed by the chorus as the outro. A coda is used to close the song.

When Shō Watanabe was writing the song, Aniplex producer Atsuhiro Iwakami intervened to change it from its original composition to what it eventually became.[3] Clara initially found it difficult to express her emotion in the first half of the song, so she carefully sang without putting in too much strain on herself.[4] Clara and Alice were able to easily empathize with the lyrics.[5] The cover artwork features multicolored candy balls formed into "ClariS", and the art direction and design was handled by Motohiro Yamazaki.

Release and reception

"Connect" was released in a regular edition and two limited editions on February 2, 2011, as a CD by SME Records in Japan.[6][7][8] One of the limited edition versions was packaged with Puella Magi Madoka Magica artwork and also contained a short version of "Connect" instead of its instrumental version.[8] The other limited edition version came bundled with a DVD containing the music video for "Connect".[7] The song peaked at No. 5 on Japan's weekly Oricon singles chart and charted for 53 weeks.[9] "Connect" debuted and peaked on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 at No. 17.[10] In January 2012, "Connect" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for having exceeded 100,000 copies shipped in a single year.[11]

Music video

The music video is entirely computer-generated and is directed by Takumi Shiga.[12] It begins with the image of a revolving carousel orbited by two small balls, one pink and the other blue. Throughout the video, various objects are primarily shown revolving while surrounded by numerous multicolored balls, though most of the images consist of fruits and desserts. Other objects shown less prominently include such things as scissors, high heels, a clock, a set of doors and an eyeball. The video concludes with the two pink and blue balls orbiting continuously closer to each other until they overlap.

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Connect" (コネクト Konekuto)Shō WatanabeShō WatanabeAtsushi Yuasa4:27
2."Dreamin'"Toshikazu KadonoToshikazu KadonoTakuya Harada, Toshikazu Kadono4:33
3."Kimi to Futari" (キミとふたり Paired with You)Carlos K.Carlos K.Carlos K.4:09
4."Connect (Instrumental)" (コネクト Konekuto) Shō WatanabeAtsushi Yuasa4:27
Total length:17:48
Madoka Magica limited edition
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Connect" (コネクト Konekuto)Shō WatanabeShō WatanabeAtsushi Yuasa4:27
2."Dreamin'"Toshikazu KadonoToshikazu KadonoTakuya Harada, Toshikazu Kadono4:33
3."Kimi to Futari" (キミとふたり Paired with You)Carlos K.Carlos K.Carlos K.4:09
4."Connect (TV Mix)"Shō WatanabeShō WatanabeAtsushi Yuasa1:33
Total length:14:55
DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Connect" (Music Video)4:27

Personnel

ClariS
  • Clara – vocals
  • Alice – vocals
Production
  • Takashi Koiwa – mixer
  • Kōtarō Kojima – mastering
  • Motohiro Yamazaki – art direction, design

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Japan Billboard Japan Hot 100[10] 17
Japan Oricon Weekly Singles[9] 5

References

  1. ↑ "Noragaki, Puella Magi Madoka Magica Promos Streamed". Anime News Network. December 9, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  2. ↑ Band Score ClariS Single Collection (in Japanese). Shinko Music Entertainment. March 20, 2012. ISBN 978-4-401-35665-2.
  3. ↑ Manry, Gia (September 7, 2011). "Interview: Atushio Iwakami". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  4. ↑ "ClariS 『コネクト』インタビュー" [ClariS "Connect" Interview]. Hotexpress Music Magazine (in Japanese). Plantech. p. 1. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  5. ↑ "ClariS 『コネクト』インタビュー" [ClariS "Connect" Interview]. Hotexpress Music Magazine (in Japanese). Plantech. p. 2. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  6. ↑ "SonyMusicShop" コネクト （通常盤） [Connect (regular edition)] (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  7. 1 2 "SonyMusicShop" コネクト【初回生産限定盤】 [Connect (limited edition)] (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  8. 1 2 "SonyMusicShop" コネクト【まどか☆マギカ盤/期間限定】 [Connect (Madoka Magica disc / limited production edition)] (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  9. 1 2 コネクト [Connect] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Billboard Japan Hot 100 2011/02/14" (in Japanese). Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  11. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2012年1月 [Gold etc. Certified Works Summary January 2012] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  12. ↑ コネクト [Connect] (in Japanese). Space Shower Networks. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
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